Dec 13, 2009: Maniwa

This is the automotive breakthrough, that will put LJ's family on easy street... well, at least buy them a house on the Outer Banks.
Screw carbon fiber and exotic alloys, sustainable, recyclable materials is the key.

Also known as maniwa, this special car was hand built by wood craftsmen and is actually legal to drive in japan. the car can accelerate up to 80km/h and is for sale at a bargain price of 44,000 USD. It also features a motorcycle-like handlebar steering system, gull wing doors and even has a stereo. it seats one driver up front on a wooden seat and has a wood bench behind for up to two passengers. The designers even made a pedal-power version for kids

Don't forget, those of us that live in snowy climes will save even more! [SIZE="1"][COLOR="Gray"]By limited usage[/COLOR][/SIZE].
So PM LJ today, and Western Union a cash transfer right away, to ride the first wave (wood is good for wave riding too) of the future. :borg:

link

Wow. It's Bob Vila meets John Delorean.

That cars is so cool I'm pining away for one right now.

If LJ could get the US distribution rights, he really would be Lumber Jim.

I can hear the termites licking their chops, as this is posted!

Thousands of wooden cars, marinated to perfection in the occasional bit of rain - they'll swear they've died and gone to termite heaven! :cool:

That won't pass safety standards in any way :headshake

I'm not so sure about that. I think it's a trike, and would have to only pass motorcycle standards.

I think it's so ugly it would stop a train.

The way they mounted the stereo looks like ass.

Thumbs down to the Picnicwagen styling.

Tuba Loons;617084 wrote:

The way they mounted the stereo looks like ass.

Thumbs down to the Picnicwagen styling.

The whole thing looks like ass. Snowmobile on wheels. After watching the video, the windscreen seems to function only as a decapitator.

Not sure about the low clearance.
No sleeping policemen in Japan, huh?
And where are the seatbelts! Won't somebody think of the children!

Actually I like the way it looks. so there.

spudcon;617089 wrote:

...the windscreen seems to function only as a decapitator.

It protects the Solar Panel.

Actually, if I remember correctly, wasn't there a British car that was built on a wood chassis? Was it the Cooper Mini or something else?

Thatthing would need to come with a house in OBX for me to drive it... wouldn't get thru the sand though I bet.

Although we did see a chevy malibu on the beach last time we were there.... that surprised me. Usually you see several awd mini vans stuck a few hundred feet past the end of the paved road, but the malibu was jammin' along...

richlevy;617120 wrote:

Actually, if I remember correctly, wasn't there a British car that was built on a wood chassis? Was it the Cooper Mini or something else?

Morgan. Some had three wheels, too.
Actually, prewar American cars had nearly as much wood as metal. You just couldn't see it, except on the woodies.

he he. you said woodies.



the above was not actually an attempt at humor; rather, it was an attempt to test my keyboard which mysteriously turned off on me.

Lotsa sharp corners and edges. Hell in even a minor fender-bender, or bumper-thumper. I woodn't want one.

Wood can be made to look much more streamlined and beautiful than that. Just look at any wooden boat. This thing is ugly and clunky looking.

glatt;617285 wrote:

Wood can be made to look much more streamlined and beautiful than that. Just look at any wooden boat. This thing is ugly and clunky looking.

I suspect this is made to appeal to the steampunk types. Their stuff is purposely clunky.

I thought steampunk hardware virtually always has brass as a major component.

that looks like a picnic table or other outdoor furniture. With the right craftsmen, it could look sooo much better.

Whats that? Oh thats the style they were going for? nevermind.

it even has a pergola off the back.

glatt;617288 wrote:

I thought steampunk hardware virtually always has brass as a major component.

Or metal of some sort. I wouldn't call this steampunk exactly, but I think that was the vibe they were going for.

It looks like something a Keebler elf would drive.

:smack: It just dawned on me, they're following the style of custom vans, in Japan.

I'm just... so happy those are not street legal in any state in my nation

In my nation, morons identify themselves with the ugly-ass body kit... butusually this is restricted to a rear wing that would fall off if the car was driven at any speed at which it might become useful...

Japan says, I know... let's take a vehicle that gets 8 mpg and weigh it down with things that are not aerodynamic

Undertoad;617383 wrote:

I'm just... so happy those are not street legal in any state in my nation

Are you sure? ;)

The Rose Parade doesn't count

How about these? :right:

Oh dear.

xoxoxoBruce;617346 wrote:

:smack: It just dawned on me, they're following the style of custom vans, in Japan.

Looks like the Japanese vanners are single-handedly keeping the Bondo people in bidness.

the wings go up--it's like a wooden delorean